Seventeen worshippers abducted during an attack on churches in Kaduna State have died in captivity, while four others remain with their abductors more than six months after a separate kidnapping incident, Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) has said.
The organisation also raised concerns over persistent attacks on Christian communities in the state, alleging that killings, mass abductions and displacement have made it increasingly difficult for residents to practise their faith freely.
The Chief Executive Officer of CSW Nigeria, Rev. Dr Yunusa Nmadu, disclosed this on Sunday, November 1, during a presentation at ECWA Goodnews Church in Kaduna to mark the 2026 International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church (IDOP). The event was held under the theme, “Light in the Darkest Places”.
Nmadu cited the April 5 attack on Ariko community in Kachia Local Government Area, where gunmen invaded three churches during Sunday services, killing five people and abducting 37 others, mostly women and children.
He said 12 of the abducted victims escaped at different times, while 17 died in captivity. The remaining eight were eventually released after spending five months with their abductors.
He also recounted the January 18 abduction of 177 worshippers from three churches in Kurmin Wali community, Kajuru Local Government Area, during Sunday services.
According to him, the government initially denied the incident but later acknowledged it following interventions by organisations, including CSW. The abducted worshippers were eventually released after spending 18 days in captivity.
Nmadu further cited an April 20 attack on Awon village, also in Kachia Local Government Area, where 11 people were abducted.
He said one of the victims escaped, six were confirmed dead, while four others remained in captivity more than six months after the incident and were reportedly in critical condition.
The CSW chief executive identified Kachia, Kajuru, Kauru and Kagarko as some of the local government areas experiencing repeated attacks, adding that the violence had forced thousands of residents to abandon their communities.
He alleged that Christians accounted for about 99 per cent of victims in some of the affected communities, describing the situation as a serious threat to religious freedom.
Nmadu also raised concerns about the treatment of victims in kidnappers’ camps, alleging that women and children were subjected to sexual violence, starvation and other forms of inhumane treatment.
He said male and female captives were separated upon arrival at the camps, while victims were reportedly denied freedom of movement and had to seek permission before accessing water.
According to him, some women, including elderly women and nursing mothers, were repeatedly sexually assaulted, with some survivors returning home pregnant after regaining their freedom.
He added that captives sometimes spent days without food and had limited access to basic hygiene materials.
The CSW chief executive also mentioned Leah Sharibu, who was abducted in February 2018, as one of the victims of prolonged captivity because of their Christian faith.
He urged Christians to remember victims of persecution in their prayers and support efforts to secure the release of those still being held by armed groups.
Nmadu said CSW had worked in Nigeria for more than 17 years to promote freedom of religion or belief through documenting human rights violations, supporting victims and survivors, training human rights defenders and engaging government institutions.
“Behind every report and every statistic is a person: a widow, a child, a pastor, a family who has lost a home or a loved one. They are not numbers to us. They are our brothers and sisters, and when one part of the body suffers, we all suffer with it,” he said.
